Brian Lupiani is rethinking his life-long relationship with Publix Supermarkets now that the grocery store chain is allowing customers to openly carry firearms in their stores.
“I just don’t want to get caught in the crossfire over the last jar of peanut butter,” the Tallahassee resident said.
But Luis Valdez of Gun Owners of American described the recent court ruling invalidating the state’s ban on the open-carry of firearms that prompted Publix’s announcement as an “affirmation of a constitutional right.”
Valdez said concerns about public safety are overblown because Florida has long been a concealed carry state with armed and unarmed people mingling with each other as they go about their daily business.
There are nearly 2.6 million Floridians with concealed-weapons permit, according to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
And now that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has embraced the 1st District Court of Appeal decision to nullify the state’s open-carry ban, Publix announced gun owners can openly display guns when they shop at any of their 900 Florida stores.
The decision opens a new front in Florida’s debate over guns. Businesses, such as supermarkets, and private property owners can choose whether to allow the open carry of firearms on their property.
While Second Amendment advocates celebrated the decision, some residents said it infringes on their right not to be among armed individuals when they sit down to eat, attend a play, or go searching for buy-one-get-one-free specials in crowded grocery store aisles.
When concealed-carry permits were required, Lupiani said at least firearms were concealed and not easily accessible but now he fears people can “just literally shoot from the hip.”
Christine Michaels of Sarasota said Florida gun law lacks even a modicum of safety guardrails for the public to be able to make informed choices. She recently quit as a volunteer for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall over concerns about a lack of signage regarding guns and other safety measures.
“They certainly have been conscientious in letting us know about not smoking, having to wear shoes and only allowing service dogs on the premises,” Michaels said.
Republican lawmakers have no appetite for gun bills, Democratic leader says
Lupiani and Michaels should not expect the Florida Legislature to address their concerns.
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa said the GOP-controlled House and Senate likely won’t consider any bills clarifying open carry or what businesses can do to enhance safety. The 2026 legislative session starts in January.
“We absolutely should be talking about this and we are not,” Driskell said after a closed committee meeting on safety and security. “The sense here is that the (court’s) opinion is clear enough.”
Gun Owners of America had pressured the Legislature to allow open carry for seven sessions before the ban was invalidated by the court.
The group’s Florida director said it would condemn any lawmaking to create gun-free shopping zones: “Gun control measures only disarm those who follow the rules, leaving them vulnerable to those who do not,” Valdez said. “Criminals are far less likely to target locations where citizens can defend themselves.”
Which Florida stores allow open carry? Which don’t?
Here are the most popular supermarkets in Florida, according to data company ScrapHero, and their firearm policies:
Aldi
In 2019, the discount grocery chain released a statement asking customers to refrain from openly displaying firearms in stores, except for authorized law enforcement personnel.
BJ’s Wholesale Club
It does not have a straightforward firearms policy listed on its main website, but it notes that it reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone at any time.
Costco
The membership-only warehouse club does not allow open or concealed carry of firearms and prohibits all firearms in its warehouses.
Publix
In a statement, Publix said treating customers with dignity and respect “is a founding belief at Publix, and we follow federal, state and local laws. As is true for many issues which arise every day, Publix leaves it to the discretion of store managers to determine if a customer is creating a threatening, erratic or dangerous shopping experience — whether they are openly carrying a firearm or not — and engage local law enforcement to protect our customers and associates.”
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club does not allow open carry of firearms and prohibits all firearms in its warehouses.
Sprouts Farmers Market
Sprouts prohibits all firearms and dangerous weapons on its premises, and it posts signage at store entrances to indicate this policy.
Target
Since July 2014, the Minneapolis-headquartered retailer has requested that firearms not be brought into its stores. “We … respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target – even in communities where it is permitted by law,” the company said in a statement.
Tom Thumb
The Texas-based supermarket chain has not stated publicly whether firearms are permitted. The company is a subsidiary of Albertsons, which in 2019 asked customers not openly carry firearms in its stores.
Trader Joe’s
The California-based chain said in 2019 that they follow local laws, but they “do not welcome weapons of any kind in our stores and never have.”
Walmart
Walmart does not allow open carry of weapons in any of its stores, but they do allow the concealed carry of weapons in accordance with state laws. If a customer is observed openly carrying a firearm at a Walmart location, it is up to the discretion of the store management to decide what to do.
Whole Foods
Whole Foods, owned by Amazon, has a longstanding policy that prohibits firearms from its stores, regardless of local laws.
Winn-Dixie
Southeastern Grocers, which owns Winn-Dixie, released a statement: “As a private business, our policy remains unchanged: We do not permit open carry of firearms inside our stores.”
C.A. Bridges and Samantha Neely contributed. James Call can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow on him Twitter: @CallTallahassee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Guns and groceries: A Florida shopper’s guide to open carry and which stores allow it
Reporting by James Call, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
